Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-06

THE HNTEa-sTATE Commission,
where md How C~mPlasass are Heard
and Dispesed of.
THE sIssIoNs Or rHr convrssIoS M rHE ssr-s-
BruptTo-rus nRnssRs or TEE BoAkp Ann now
surr rRv oAsEs-THK SMALL CLINICAL FORGE
DIFFICULTIES rHAr the COMMISSION had 10 MET.
The Interstate Commerce Commission though
but recently created and established has become
one Of the most important government bureaus
IL is already demonstrated that Congress- In pro-
vdine for the Commission. fell FAR short OF Q cor.
rect appreciation OF the importance and magnL
tude OF the work In hand In the nrst place the
Commission was called upon 10 construe the intAr-
state law. Even before it was formally organized
appeals FOR Interpolation OF the various pro-
visions OF the law began 90 pour In. Theee 40.
peals came from railroads I'm all sections Of the
country, and most OF them were urgent, protest.
Ing that the railroads must have the rulings Of the
Commission before they could with safety make
rates But In addition 70 Its Judicial functions the
extent that it is required to see the provs,ons OF
the law enforced The correspondence OF the CON-
mission alone. TO say nothing OF it's other duties,
THE ooHrLANrs REcErnp.
The complaints or corporations against eaoa
other and OF communities, frms ana indiyidusla
against common carriers for alleged violations OF
the Law Are many and varied. ranging from charra
rsfusals grant Tree passes In order 10 restrict
these complaints to actual grievances the board
common carriers should De yerined under aaih
While this ruling no doubt curtailed Ole numpef
them for shsre is sca 1s not aa SA iss
complaints OF thie character, based upon the com.
plainants' idea Of equity and not upon law. arc
docketed, and the parties accused notired 20 make
answer Where the issues Joined involve Ques.
judicial capacity hears and determines them in
regular open sessions
The HEARINGS.
AT these hearings testimony pro and con is prs.
sented and the issues q rule argued by counsel
before the full board After hearing the facts and
arguments the board meets IN conference and
there with full and free Interchange OF opinion,
For their permanent quarters the Commissioners
selected the nth door of the new and elegant Bal
timore sun building on street. Each Commits
sioner has hisroom. Another IL occupied by the
secretary, Eon. 4. A. Moseley, and originally the
large room, extending through the entire width Of
lie hearings but the rapidly merchandising bud.
ness compelled the abandonment OF that cornmO.
aious ROOM TO the clerical force For It's hearings
the Commission then took the middle room front.
Ing on street. Though n was much TOO small
for the purpose IL WAS the best arrangement thas
THE CHEMICAL FORCE
From the nrst the Commission has been cramped
for want OF clerical assistance owing TO the iuade-
Quacy Of the appropriation made by Congress. Tho
Treasury Departmen t held that the 500 600 appro-
priation was 30 hedged by Congress that IL must
cover all expenses, Including salaries II had been
the view OF the mmissioners that their lar,ea
and that OF the secretary would paid out OF the
Treasury and not from the 800. 600 appropriation
| as these of1ces were specifically created by CON-
gress But the Controller held otherwise and
there Is no appeal from his decisions. Thus re-
str1cted the Commission has had 10 be very economs
cal In the employment OF assistants Though tho
business has Tar exceeded In volume and import
ance what was anticipated lack Of funds has CON-
PEELED that the payroll be kept down the small
est possible proportions. In their report
TO Congress next winter the Commissioners Will
ask for money enough 10 provide the board
with the help requisite TO prompt and efficient
discharge OF all the duties.
RENTING ADDITIONAL QUARTERS.
Recently, II having been demonstrated that tho
NTH moor OF the Sun building was not commo.
dious enough, the sixth floor was taken also. for
the Commission. II is now being fitted I'D and
furnished The auditor, Mr.. Mccain, with his stan,
charge, occupies that floor, and the large room 10
the 'front.' extending from wall to wall Will be used
for public hearings. The small room the floor
beneath, AT present set apart for hearings, will
probably be used q conference ROOM as II IL
most conveniently located for this purpose, being
IN the center, almost, OF the several Commission
ers rooms. Judge cooley president OF the COM
mission was selected because OF his legal learning
and MS judicial experience and requirements. AZ
much more lucrative position 10 accept the one
he now holds, but though he may have lost by the
exchange the public has pronted. His admins
tration OF the ONCE has met the highest expecIa-
lions or his friends and the public. Upon Judge
greater weight Of labor and responsibility In put.
ung into operation q new law, conIessedly largely
experimental In Its nature and effects Enormous
Interests were involved and any injudicious action
on the part OF the Commission might have worked
incalculabe injury.
DIFFICULTIES THAT HAD TO BE MET.
At the very outset the Commission were mes
with united effort the part OF the railroads 10
break down the law by multiplying its main pro-
vision. They were confronted, too with schemes
or stock jobbers TO make the law a means OF bear
Ing the stock market. With entire unanimity OF
went forward resoluIeiy to a fair and I@Ssrtiai
enforcement OF the law and 10 prevent any man or
set OF men from deriving any undue advantage.
As the Commissioners are all lawyers, they were
well prepared TO handle the numerous legal prob
lens submitted 10 them. They have succeeded in
systematizing the work, and have Impressed their
methods OF doing business upon the various rail-
road arrangements, so that much OF the labor In
connection with corporations is rendered easier.
HOW HEARINGS ARE Conducted.
At the public hearings the Commissioners range
themselves In row on one side OF long table,
the opposite side being reserved for counsel and
witnesses The chairman occupies the middle
seat, having Commissioners Morrison and Walker
ON his iest Innae CooIey Sr.sSen Vim th is
OF the bench he sits erect, and never loses q
point from first TO last. Commissioners Morrison
l.
back or leans forward, as ease suggests, without
any special regard TO dignity. Commissioner
walker takes coplous notes; In fact he makes an
abstract OF the case for his own use He lots down
everything on both sides, and when the hearing 10
over has the case at bis fingers ends. Commits
sioner Schoonmaker takes occasional notes, just
sufncient TO refresh his memory. Commissioner
Bragg diligently reads up all the cases coming be-
fore the board. Witnesses are not bound by the
strict rules OF evidence, as Judge Cooley holdx
that the main object is TO get at the truth os
questions at issue, and 50 q wider latitude n
TAKING TESTIMONY.
All testimony is given under oath, administered
by the chairman. II witness rambles into irrel
evancy the chairman politely recalls him TO the
point. Upon the secretary devolves the task OF
opening the extensive correspondence, and OF dis
tributing IL among the Commissioners, as it may
relate TO cases In their charge respectively. When
case Is decided IL Is referred 10 OF the board
70 write the oplnlon-any member, OF course, hav-
Ing the right 10 dissent The number or employees
at present, including The Bureau OF STATISTICS Is
less than twenty. The board Will not probably
resume Its sessions In this city until October as
appointments have been made In other cities that
viii occupy the Intervening time. The absence OF
the board on duty elsewhere does not interrupt the
regular progress OF routine business. The en-
Gent secretary, Mr.. Moseey, remains in charge,
and everything Is kept moving In regular order.
Senator STAFFORD sharply Examined
PROBING TIE AFFAIRS or THE CENTRAL PAcIFIc-hR
,aH 10 Tan